Wonderful (The Beach Boys song)

"Wonderful" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks for American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1967 album Smiley Smile, but was attempted earlier for the Smile sessions. Wilson claims that he and Parks wrote the song along with "Heroes and Villains" "Cabin Essence" and "Surf's Up" in a giant sandbox with a piano in it that Wilson had moved into his living room. When released on Smiley Smile, Parks' credit was omitted.^[1]

The song has since been covered by a variety of artists.

Composition

The song's title derives from a pet name Brian Wilson had for his wife Marilyn.^[1] It is the only Smile composition to refer to God by name,.^[1] Co-writer Van Dyke Parks observed,

Musically, it's entirely different from anything else. and I thought that it was a place, an opportunity, to begin a love song. I remember Brian pressing me about the relationship between the mother and the father and the child. And this is the guy who wrote "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)", the guy who is becoming a man. I really think that he was thinking about his own personal progression from childhood. Now I thought, once we had gotten "Heroes And Villains" done, we might have seen a boy/girl song emerge, other than "Wonderful". Honestly, I really thought we would do it, but I never found an opportunity to pursue that with the music I was given.^[2]

Author Andrew Hickey interprets its lyrics to be the story of a girl devoted to God and her parents who is thrown into emotional disarray after encountering a member of the opposite sex.^[1] Biographer Mark Dillon describes the song as the story of a young woman and her steadfast embrace of adolescence through the loss of her own virginity.^[3] He also characterizes the original version of the recording as "proto-psychedelic chamber pop".^[1]

When "Wonderful" was remade for Smiley Smile, one verse was omitted from its lyrics, it being replaced by a 35-second interlude described as "a left turn into a hash den" by Dillon.^[1] Containing the group's giggling and nonsense doo-wop chanting, Dillion believes the phrase "don't think you're God" can be heard in the mass of voices.^[1] He also suggested that the interlude represents the female protagonist's sexual awakening.^[1]

Variations

Various alternates takes and mixes of the song appear on the compilations Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys and The Smile Sessions. A 1973 live performance of the song in medley with The Flames' "Don't Worry Bill" was released in 1998 for the Beach Boys' Endless Harmony Soundtrack. Another performance dated from 1993 was released in 2013 for Made in California.

Reception

Author Andrew Hickey wrote of the song, "If there was any justice in the world, this song would now be regarded as every bit the classic that "God Only Knows" is, as on every level that matters – musical and lyrical sophistication, beauty, the compassion that pours out of every syllable of the song – this is the superior of that song and almost every other I've heard."^[3] In 2011 Mike Love commended Parks' "marvelous job" with the lyrics and has described the piece as beautiful and sensitive, possessing ability to move listeners to tears.^[4] He told Goldmine magazine "‘Wonderful’ is an amazing, amazing piece of work. Holy shit! Van Dyke and Brian did a great collaboration on that one. It’s a really beautiful song. That’s probably my favorite thing from the Smile project.”^[5] Power pop musician Matthew Sweet praised the Smile version for its baroque feel, whereas "it gets a little more trivialized on Smiley Smile".^[1]

Personnel

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Smiley Smile

Carl Wilson – lead vocals^[6]

The Smile Sessions

Brian Wilson – harpsichord^[6]

Brian Wilson versions

"Wonderful"

Single by Brian Wilson

from the album Brian Wilson Presents Smile

B-side

"Wind Chimes"

Released

September 20, 2004

Format

7" single

Recorded

2004

Length

2:01

Label

Nonesuch Records

Writer(s)

Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks

Producer(s)

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson singles chronology

"Your Imagination"
(1998)

"Wonderful"
(2004)

"Good Vibrations"
(2004)

As a solo artist, Brian Wilson revisited the song in 1995 for his I Just Wasn't Made For These Times album, and then again for Brian Wilson Presents Smile in 2004. The latter version was released as a limited 7" single backed with "Wind Chimes" totaling 5,000 copies on blue, green, and yellow vinyl. In the 2004 version, "Wonderful" is linked thematically with the second suite which also included "Child Is Father of the Man" and "Surf's Up".^[1]

Covers

1990 (1990): Nikki Sudden & the Mermaids, Smiles, Vibes & Harmony: A Tribute to Brian Wilson
1993 (1993): David Garland, I Guess I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
1996 (1996): Outrageous Cherry, Stereo Action Rant Party
1998 (1998): Adventures in Stereo, Smiling Pets
1998 (1998): Sportsguitar, Smiling Pets
2009 (2009): Rufus Wainwright, War Child Presents Heroes

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Dillon 2012.
↑ Priore 2005, p. 71.
1 2 Hickey 2011.
↑ "The Beach Boys Smile". Mojo Magazine. June 2011.
↑ Beard, David (January 4, 2012). "Discover the story behind The Beach Boys' 'SMiLE'". http://www.goldminemag.com/. Retrieved August 2, 2013. External link in |website= (help)
1 2 Leaf, David (1990). Smiley Smile/Wild Honey (CD Liner). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records.

Bibliography

Dillon, Mark (2012). Fifty Sides of the Beach Boys: The Songs That Tell Their Story. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-77090-198-8.
Hickey, Andrew (2011). "Smiley Smile". The Beach Boys On CD: Vol 1 1961-1969. United Kingdom. ISBN 9781447542339.
Priore, Domenic (2005). Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece. London: Sanctuary. ISBN 1860746276.

Smiley Smile

Songs

Side one	"Heroes and Villains" "Vegetables" "Fall Breaks and Back to Winter (W. Woodpecker Symphony)" "She's Goin' Bald" "Little Pad"

Side two	"Good Vibrations" "With Me Tonight" "Wind Chimes" "Gettin' Hungry" "Wonderful" "Whistle In"

Smile

Events leading to the album's collapse

The Smile Sessions
track listing

Side one	"Our Prayer" "Gee" "Heroes and Villains" "Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock)" "I'm In Great Shape" "Barnyard" "My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine)" "Cabin Essence"

Side two	"Wonderful" "Look (Song for Children)" "Child Is Father of the Man" "Surf's Up"

Side three	"I Wanna Be Around / Workshop" "Vega-Tables" "Holidays" "Wind Chimes" "The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow)" "Love to Say Dada" "Good Vibrations"

Others	"Cool, Cool Water" "I Don't Know" "He Gives Speeches" "Teeter Totter Love" "Three Blind Mice" "Tune X" "You're Welcome" "You're with Me Tonight"

Derivative songs

"Fall Breaks and Back to Winter (W. Woodpecker Symphony)"
"She's Goin' Bald"
"Whistle In"
"Can't Wait Too Long"
"Mama Says"
"Little Bird"

Pet Sounds (Sessions)
20/20
Surf's Up
Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
- bootlegs
- discography
Van Dyke Parks
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
"Goodbye Surfing, Hello God!"
"Rio Grande"
Smiling Pets
The Act of Creation

The Beach Boys singles discography

1960s

1961	"Surfin'" / "Luau"

1962	"Surfin' Safari" / "409" "Ten Little Indians" / "County Fair"

1963	"Surfin' U.S.A." / "Shut Down" "Surfer Girl" / "Little Deuce Coupe" "Be True to Your School" / "In My Room" "Little Saint Nick" / "The Lord's Prayer"

1964	"Fun, Fun, Fun" / "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" "I Get Around" / "Don't Worry Baby" "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)" / "She Knows Me Too Well" "Dance, Dance, Dance" / "The Warmth of the Sun" "The Man with All the Toys" / "Blue Christmas"

1965	"Do You Want to Dance" / "Please Let Me Wonder" "Help Me, Rhonda" / "Kiss Me, Baby" "California Girls"/ "Let Him Run Wild" "The Little Girl I Once Knew" / "There's No Other (Like My Baby)" "Barbara Ann" / "Girl Don't Tell Me"

1966	"Sloop John B" / "You're So Good to Me" "Wouldn't It Be Nice" / "God Only Knows" "Good Vibrations" / "Let's Go Away for Awhile"

1967	"Then I Kissed Her" / "Mountain of Love" "Heroes and Villains" / "You're Welcome" "Wild Honey" / "Wind Chimes" "Darlin'" / "Here Today"

1968	"Friends" / "Little Bird" "Do It Again" / "Wake the World" "Bluebirds over the Mountain" / "Never Learn Not to Love"

1969	"I Can Hear Music" / "All I Want to Do" "Break Away" / "Celebrate the News"

1970s

1970	"Add Some Music to Your Day" / "Susie Cincinnati" "Cottonfields" / "The Nearest Faraway Place" "Slip On Through" / "This Whole World" "Tears in the Morning" / "It's About Time"

1971	"Cool, Cool Water" / "Forever" "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (live) / "The Times They Are a-Changin'" (by Merry Clayton) "Long Promised Road" / "Deirdre" "Long Promised Road" / "'Til I Die" "Surf's Up" / "Don't Go Near the Water"

1972	"You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" / "Cuddle Up" "Marcella" / "Hold On Dear Brother"

1973	"Sail On, Sailor" / "Only with You" "California Saga: California" / "Funky Pretty"

1974	"Surfin' U.S.A." / "The Warmth of the Sun" "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" / "Susie Cincinnati"

1975	"Sail On, Sailor" / "Only with You"

1976	"Rock and Roll Music" / "T M Song" "It's O.K." / "Had to Phone Ya" "Everyone's in Love with You" / "Susie Cincinnati"

1977	"Honkin' Down the Highway" / "Solar System"

1978	"Peggy Sue" / "Hey Little Tomboy"

1979	"Here Comes the Night" / "Baby Blue" "Good Timin'" / "Love Surrounds Me" "Lady Lynda" / "Full Sail" "It's a Beautiful Day" / "Sumahama"

1980s

1980	"Goin' On" / "Endless Harmony" "Livin' with a Heartache" / "Santa Ana Winds"

1981	"The Beach Boys Medley" / "God Only Knows" "Come Go with Me" / "Don't Go Near the Water"

1985	"Getcha Back" / "Male Ego" "It's Gettin' Late" / "It's O.K." "She Believes in Love Again" / "It's Just a Matter of Time"

1986	"Rock 'n' Roll to the Rescue" / "Good Vibrations" (live) "California Dreamin'" / "Lady Liberty"

1987	"Happy Endings" (with Little Richard) / "California Girls" (live)

1988	"Kokomo" / "Tutti Frutti" (Little Richard)

1989	"Still Cruisin'" / "Kokomo"

1990s

1990	"Somewhere Near Japan" / "Kokomo" "Problem Child" / "Problem Child (Instrumental)"

1992	"Hot Fun in the Summertime" / "Summer of Love"

1996	"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" / "Wouldn't It Be Nice" / "Here Today"

2010s

2011	"Good Vibrations" / "Heroes and Villains" "Don't Fight the Sea" / "Friends" "Cabinessence" / "Wonderful"

2012	"That's Why God Made the Radio" / "That's Why God Made the Radio" (instrumental) "Isn't It Time" / Live in Chicago

Book
Category

Brian Wilson

Studio albums

Brian Wilson
I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
Orange Crate Art (with Van Dyke Parks)
Imagination
Gettin' In Over My Head
Brian Wilson Presents Smile
What I Really Want for Christmas
That Lucky Old Sun
Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
In the Key of Disney
No Pier Pressure
Sensitive Music for Sensitive People

Live albums

Compilations

Singles

"Caroline, No"
"Gettin' Hungry" (with Mike Love)
"Let's Go to Heaven In My Car"
"Love and Mercy"
"Night Time"
"Melt Away"
"Do It Again"
"Your Imagination
"Wonderful"
"Good Vibrations"
"Our Prayer" (Freeform Reform)
"Walking Down the Path of Life / Love & Mercy"
"What I Really Want for Christmas"
"Midnight's Another Day"
"What Love Can Do"
"The Like In I Love You"
"God Only Knows" (BBC Music)
"The Right Time"
"Runaway Dancer"
"On the Island"

Songs

Other songs	"Any Emotions" "The Big Beat" "Drag City" "Falling Apart" "Guess I'm Dumb" "I Do" "The New Girl in School" "Push It" "Shortenin' Bread" "Sidewalk Surfin'" "Surf City"

Tributes

Family

Melinda Ledbetter (2nd wife)
Mike Love (cousin)
Stan Love (cousin)
Carl Wilson (brother)
Carnie Wilson (daughter)
Dennis Wilson (brother)
Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford (1st wife)
Murry Wilson (father)
Wendy Wilson (daughter)

Albums	Pet Sounds Sessions Smile Sessions A World of Peace Must Come Spring Folkways: A Vision Shared For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson The Wilsons Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! Listen to Me: Buddy Holly The Art of McCartney Music from Love & Mercy

Films	I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1995) Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile (2004) Love & Mercy (2014)

Unreleased	Adult Child Andy Paley sessions Bedroom Tapes Sweet Insanity

American Spring The Beach Boys Brian Wilson's home studio California Music California Sound The Honeys I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir Eugene Landy Love v. Wilson Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tour Radiant Radish Wilson–Beck 2013 Tour Wondermints Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story The 50th Reunion Tour

Portal

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